Assessment of the Health Status and Needs of Bahraini Women.

Abstract

Women’s health problems in Bahrain are varied and create a major challenge for the health system, increasing demand on health centers and requiring provision of comprehensive health services for women throughout their life span. Lack of women’s involvement in planning health care services and health policies, along with limited research and literature regarding women’s health in Bahrain, has resulted in health disparities such as increased chronic diseases.This was a cross-sectional study designed to examine the perceived and actual health status, health practices and needs for Bahraini women aged 18 to 64 years, while examining the reliability and validity of the SF-36 scale with Bahraini population, during the period August to October 2009. The SF-36 Health Status Survey (Arabic Version), a structured questionnaire, and medical chart reviews for chronic conditions were used. In addition, women’s blood pressure, weight and height were measured. A systematic random sample of 258 women was selected from local health centers. The SF-36 perceived health status scale was found to be reliable and valid when used with this population, however the reliability of the scale could be improved if the scale were modified to the local Bahraini dialect. The perceived health status scores for Bahraini women were similar to the Arabic populations and different from US populations. Obesity, anemia, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and hypertension were identified as the most common women’s health problems in Bahrain. Results showed that 70% of the women were overweight or obese and the number of chronic conditions they had was a significant determinant of their health status. Bahraini women identified access to women’s health specialists, annual screening for chronic conditions, nutritional, health education, and exercise programs as their highest priority health care needs. Recommendations to re-examine the SF-36 scale when modified to the local language, re-evaluation of women’s health services, and planning future services according to their health needs is fundamental to improve health of Bahraini women’s.